How Martin Jol enjoyed this one. Broad grins, solid handshakes and bear hugs erupted on the Fulham bench at the final whistle. Nothing personal, mind you.

It was all about the points for the Fulham manager. The fact Tottenham’s annual flirtation with the self-destruct button had received a crafty nudge from a couple of their favourite old boys was merely coincidence.

Jol had drawn up plans to beat Spurs for the first time since he was sacked as their boss and Dimitar Berbatov supplied the key, sweeping in his first goal at White Hart Lane since leaving for Manchester United in September 2008.

Berbatov declined to celebrate, despite a
reception best described as mixed from those fans who once adored him,
but they can probably recall him ‘celebrating’ Tottenham goals in the
same moody fashion.

It was a third successive defeat for Andre Villas-Boas and his team.This
includes a loss at Inter Milan which did not stop progress into the
last eight of the Europa League but Chelsea eased past them into third
place in the Barclays Premier League and Arsenal have appeared in the
wing mirrors again.

As the stadium emptied into Tottenham High Road in the rain there was
none of the euphoria which had followed victory in the north London
derby two weeks earlier. Instead, Spurs fans were confronting the threat
of another near miss in qualification for the Champions League.

‘We can’t hide from what has happened in the past,’ said manager
Villas-Boas. ‘We have the opportunity to fight it. It has been a
difficult month. The most important thing is that we have enough games
to get out of this situation.

‘Merit to Arsenal for getting back into it. We couldn’t get a result at
Liverpool and the situation has shifted and now they’re in with a
chance. After the break we must get back to our business.’

The first half was strangely subdued, devoid of incident. Perhaps Spurs
had been badly dented by their 4-1 beating in Italy. The home fans were
quiet and, unusually, the team could not rouse them with any adventure
until it was too late.

Gareth Bale, as ever, was the big threat but suffered an injury just
before the interval, twisting an ankle in an innocent tangle with
Giorgos Karagounis.

Bale needed treatment and trod gingerly for a while on the touchline
before returning to the fray. By the start of the second half he was
moving freely and Villas-Boas had been forced into a different change,
with Michael Dawson off, complaining of a tight hamstring.

Old boy: Berbatov spent two seasons at Spurs before leaving for Manchester United in a big-money move

The Tottenham boss reacted by loosening his tactical grip on Fulham’s
dangerous right flank. Having originally deployed Benoit Assou-Ekotto on
the left to protect Kyle Naughton, he reshuffled and sent on Clint
Dempsey.

The game improved greatly but, within seven minutes of the restart,
Spurs were behind. The visitors broke down the right and Sascha Riether
burst on to a pass from Ashkan Dejagah.

Without a trace of effort Berbatov beat Naughton in the race to reach
Riether’s low cross and clipped it past Hugo Lloris. He has scored in
nine games this season and Fulham have not lost any of them.

Worry: Tottenham's star man Gareth Bale suffered an injury scare

‘We were
talking before the game and he said “You have to trust me”,’ said Jol.
‘I thought he was joking. He’s said it twice now. He said it before the
Stoke game and he said it again.

‘He’s a wonderful player. The only thing he wants is a day off if he scores.’

Fulham won the Stoke game in February too, with a Berbatov goal. His
lack of industry may irritate but it is likely to be tolerated if he
wins games and accrues points in the quest for survival.

Tight: Fulham left back John Arne Riise holds off Tottenham's Gylfi Sigurdsson

‘He’s a terrific boy if you have a good connection with him,’ said Jol.
‘It’s important to try to get the understanding. He looks like he’s
sulking and his body language is not great but I spoke about it years
ago and it’s still the same.

‘It’s not against his team-mates. He’s disappointed in himself sometimes
but if you know him he can be a winner. He’s very important.’

Steve
Sidwell and Brede Hangeland went close to extending the lead before
Spurs, improved by the introduction of Jermain Defoe and Tom Carroll,
gathered momentum.

Stopper: Mark Schwarzer makes a save to deny Jermain Defoe

Delight: Brede Hangeland and Schwarzer celebrate Fulham's win at the final whistle

Mark Schwarzer denied Defoe twice with exceptional saves, the second at
point-blank distance, and also dashed out to smother bravely at Bale’s
feet.

As Schwarzer plucked a high cross out of the sky in the final seconds,
Berbatov could be found lurking on the left wing with his hands on his
hips.

For Fulham, the pair equally vital. For Spurs, they have caused a
little anxiety.

GARETH BALE: BOOT WATCH

Got the blues: Gareth Bale

Frustrated: The swap didn't help

It was a frustrating afternoon for Tottenham and star man Gareth Bale. The Wales winger has been unstoppable of late, so no doubt would have been unhappy with his below-par display against Fulham.

He couldn't be accused of not trying though, to be fair. The wideman changed his boots in the hope that they would bring greater success but, unfortunately for Spurs, he failed to score wearing either yellow or blue.

Ultimately for Spurs, however, the main thing is Bale continues to tweak whatever it takes to get back to his best form.

Tottenham are beginning to look over their shoulders at rivals Arsenal as the Champions League race hots up but if the Welshman can return to that form they're unlikely to have any concerns.